In one of the country's most competitive districts, a Democrat tries to keep her seat
Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez faces a tough re-election challenge from Republican John Braun in Washington's 3rd Congressional District. The race is considered a bellwether for control of the House of Representatives.
Why it matters
This district is a critical battleground that will help determine which party holds the majority in Congress, reflecting the broader national political divide.
The fight for which party will control Congress is zoning in on one competitive district in southwest Washington state.
The 3rd Congressional District is a mix of urban, industrial and rural communities with inland and coastal areas. It prides itself on its political independence. President Trump won this congressional district three times. But Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez flipped the district blue in 2022. Now, the Republican nominee, state Sen. John Braun, believes he has a shot at winning it back.
"A lot of districts these days are pretty predictable in terms of their politics," Braun told NPR during an interview at his small manufacturing business. "The third is not. You got to go earn those votes."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in